Wonder Women: Local Treasures
curated by George Krevsky

May 26 - July 8, 2018
 

Stimulated by the explosion of media attention to feminist action and the confluence of pop culture, the impact of Wonder Woman has new significance in our day and age. In the art world, women continue fighting for recognition and representation while simultaneously creating some of their most potent and influential work of all time.

With this exhibition, curator George Krevsky has gathered a group of ten women artists who have impacted society with their ability to blend paint, canvas, paper, technology and talent, to produce a body of work that documents and reflects the world we live in.

Helen Berggruen, Kay Bradner, Stacey Carter Dana DeKalb, Lisa Esherick, Robbin Henderson, Naomie Kramer, Diana Krevsky, Tabitha Soren and Jan Wurm have all been involved with the Berkeley Art Center over the past five decades, and therefore we dub them our “Local Treasures”.  Sometimes political, often lyrical and surreal, these artists balance their personal and professional lives with the needs of their communities.

Queer Technology
curated by Elliot Anderson

July 21 - September 2, 2018
Opening Reception: Saturday July 21, 6-8pm

Elliot Anderson is Associate Professor of Electronic Art, Digital Arts/New Media at UC Santa Cruz. Anderson's own work incorporates a wide range of media including video, sound, computer interaction, animation, and digital imaging. His work includes interactive computer sculptures and installation, public art, interactive video for performance, and digital photography. He has curated for numerous galleries, conferences, and festivals, and juried the First Annual Electronic Awards for the Society for the Encouragement of Contemporary Art (SECA).

Of Dreams and Reality
curated by Ann Jastrab

September 15 - October 25, 2018
Opening Reception: Saturday Sept 15, 6-8pm

BAC will be participating in the inaugural year of the Bay Area Month of Photography (September 2018). Guest curator Ann Jastrab will work with the Bay Area Photographers Collective to create an exhibition including some of the twenty-two BAPC members. BAPC is a nonprofit that sustains a community of photographic artists through support, encouragement, and constructive critique, and exhibition opportunities. Curator Ann Jastrab was the gallery director for Rayko Photo in San Francisco for ten years. She is also Editor in Chief for All About Photo.com. Ann has curated many exhibitions for RayKo as well as for the San Francisco Arts Commission, the Academy of Art in San Francisco, Artspan, SFAI, the Center for Fine Art Photography, and other national and international venues outside of San Francisco. She has reviewed portfolios at festivals and competitions around the world.

Universal Messages: New Vistas
Contemporary works from Muslim Women Artists in the Bay Area
curated by Salma Arastu

November 3 - December 2, 2018
Opening Reception: Saturday Nov 3, 6-8pm

The nine Muslim women artists featured include Salma Arastu, Bassamat Fayoumi Bahnasy, Manli Salimah Chao, Rabea Chaudhry, Rubina Kazi, Yasmin Khafagi, Azeem Khaliq, Nabeela Sajjad, Ayesha Samdani, and Sophia Ahmed Sattar. Many of these artists are inspired by the art of Arabic Calligraphy which developed from the Islamic tradition forbidding the depiction of God, Mohamed and the prophets in art. Historically verses from the Quran were rendered in beautifully crafted manuscripts. The works in this show, explore the creative possibility of calligraphy and the content of the spiritual words.

Public programs:

Saturday, November 3, 7pm: “Sounds of Faith” live musical performance. On the opening day of the exhibit we invite singers and performers to present a variety of melodius spiritual songs. It will begin with eloquent Quran reciting, followed by Jewish and Christian hymns performed by Bay Area musicians. Participants will be invited from partnering organizations such as the Islamic Society of San Francisco, and Universal Unitarian Church in San Francisco, Islamic Cultural Center in Oakland and Interfaith Council of Contra Costa County.

Sunday, November 11, 1-3pm: “Mandala Workshop” collaborative art project. The community is invited to create a group mandala with lead artist Salma Arastu. A mandala is a spiritual and ritual symbol in Indian and Buddhist religions, representing the universe. According to the artist, all faiths are connected through philosophy, myths, rituals and deep-rooted beliefs in the mandala circle, and are moving towards the center.

Thursday, November 15, 7pm: "In Search of Eternal Love" Rumi poetry and dance.
Performance artist Naina Shastri and visual artist Salma Arastu collaborate on a performance utilizing Indian classical dance, poetry, video projection, and live music to connect 13th-century Persian mystic Mevlana Rumi and 16th-century Indian saint Meera Bai, who both spoke of finding salvation in love.